ascMcLaren EnthusiastsAn asc McLaren forum for ALL Mustang and Capri based cars modified by Automotive Speciality Corporation, a Division of American Sunroof Corporation. (a trademarked corporation) with no affilation to this site.

My handles are metal, so either they were changed by ASC or they were changed at another point in this cars life.

I have A LOT of play in the handle before the door opens, from what I understand, the door handle bar (inside the door) should be resting on the handle tab (see pic) you can see that mine is not, I have about 1/2" of play.

if you can zoom on the pic, you can also see what looks like remnants of an old plastic bushing or something that is inside the handle hole (around the bar). I cannot find anything technical that relates to what this is - if this is supposed to be there or not.
I've considered altering the bar to have it sit up more but was not sure if this would affect the performance of the door before I do any permanent damage.

Mine has some travel to it, too. It doesn't actually open the door until about half way through it's movement.

There are a lot of forum questions about doors on four eyed pride. I would also check out Youtube for people rebuilding doors.._________________Dan
Norfolk, VA
86 Capri Convt Silver/Charcoal/Black
67 Mustang GTA Convt

Dang it. Maybe it was the other way. I have to go look it up. I do remember having the body guy put new handles on the car now because I knew they were prone to breaking._________________1985 ascMcLaren Coupe - Midnight Blue
Under Restoration

I've done some further research, I have a friend at ford that was able to reference me to someone that carried an OEM door handle and I had them send me a pic of the inside the door part - there is a small bushing/retainer, most likely stops it from rattling around that the rod goes through.
This is not a replaceable part, well they don't have one to replace it, and it does not appear to affect door operation. I will try to find something to clip in there though, I am glad to know I wasn't crazy though!

my experience with the after market. And these short comes where pointed out to me by a body shop owner that has installed lots of mustang handles.

Aftermarket handles

1. There is a little bump stop on the outside below handle that on the aftermarket sits a little low.

2. The is slight play left to right in the handle. Not much maybe .060inch I should measure

3. the biggie coming from the body shop is The handle does not center as well as the factory one when putting back on the car

I did go to National Parts Depot and compare MY OE with the aftermarket and there OE And the New OE are lighter in weight then the rest but the above faults of the aftermarket where not as bad as the aftermarket.